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3 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. F. SULLIVAN 8v W. vJ. GRAHAM. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 8, 1887.. i-i'gpl.

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D. P. SULLIVAN & W. J. GRAHAM. CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE.

No. 858,900. ,Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL F. SULLIVAN AND VILLIAM J. GRAHAM, OF LOVELL, MASS.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,900, dated March 8, 1887.

Application filed Sept-einher 13, 1886. Serial No. 213,379.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, DANIEL F. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, and WILLIAM J. GRAHAM,

`a citizen of Great Britain, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting-machines; and it consists, in combination with the rotary needle-cylinder, of improved presser-wheels and automatic Ineans for moving them to and from the needle-cylinder or circle for the purpose of automatically making the desired changes in the stitch during the progress of the work.

The invention further consists in automatic means for moving the stitch-wheel,during the operation of the machine, to and from the circle or needle-cylinder, as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, where- Figure l represents a plan viewof the knit` ting-machine and its automatic attachments. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged partial section on the line A Bin Fig. l, showing the stitchwheel and its automatic adjusting device. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged partial longitudinal section on the line C D' in Fig. l, showing the improved presser-wheel and its automatic adjusting device. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged section on the line E F in Fig. 1, showing the ratchet cam-wheel and pawl for its automatic operation. Fig.` 5 represents au enlarged partial cross-section on line G- H in Fig. l; and Fig. 6 represents an enlarged sectional plan view of the improved presserwheels, showing supporting means for the presser-wheels and connected parts.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings. l

a is the stationary bed or frame of a ci reularknitting machine, as usual, having the stationary post or spindle b, to which is secured the stationary plate c, as shown in Fig. l.

(No model.)

d is the rotary circle/or needle-cylinder, as usual, said cylinder being rotated in the ordinary manner, inthe direction shown by arrow in Fig. l, by the usual mechanism for this purpose. Such mechanism, not forming subject-matter of our invention, is, however, not shown in the drawings.

d d d are the barbed needles, secured, as usual, to the circle or needle-cylinder d.

e in Fig. l represents the adjustable thread or yarn guide, located, as usual, on the outside of the circle d.

f is the horn or push-hack,77 located on the inside of the circle d, for the purpose of keeping the work down from the stitch-wheel and dividing-wheel, such horn or push-back being adjustably secured to the post f', attached to' the bed or frame a in the ordinary way.

g is the dividing-wheel, as usual, to even the loops formed by the stitch-wheel Z, such dividing-wheel being journaled loosely on a pin attached tothe yielding bar g', which latter is guided in the stationary sleeve g"in the ordinary way, and we wish to state that such dividing-wheel forms no part of our present invention.

it is the landing-wheel, as usual, for throwing the stitches over the barbs of the needles d d', such landing-wheel being loosely journaled ona stud or pin attached to the plate hf, that is adj ustably secured to the stationary plate c in the ordinary way.

t' is the finishing or cast-off wheel, as usual, for throwing oft' the work from the needles d d after the stitches are made, such wheel z' being likewise loosely journaled on a stud or pin attached to the plate i', that is adj ust-ably secured to the stationary plate c in the ordinary way, as shown in Fig. l.

In addition to the usual cast-off wheel, z, we provide the machine with au additional wheel, k, located outside of the needle-cylinder, for the purpose ci' aidingin throwing oli" the work from the barbed needles d d'. This additional wheel 7c is made in the form of a smooth circular disk that is loosely journaled on a pin or stud, It', on the slotted plate It, that is adjustably secured by means of screws k3 7s", or equivalent devices, to a suitable post attached to the hed c, as shown in Fig. l. As the needle-cylinder rotates it imparts a rotary motion to the outside cast-off wheel, 7c, said wheel being arranged inclined to a horizontal plane, and as it rotates it causes the stitches not already disengaged from the needles by the internalcast-offwheel,1, to be raised and thrown over the needles.

Z in Figs. 1 and 2 is the stitch-wheel for forming the loop and carrying the yarn under the barbs of the needles eZ rZ, as is usual in knitting-machines of this kind, said stitch-wheel being loosely journaled on apin or stud, Z, secured to the bearing-piece Z, that is adjustably secured to the spindle Z, that is guided in thesleeveZ". (Shown in Fig. 2.) To the outer end of spindle Z3 is secured in an adjustable manner the Banged nut Z5, screwed on the outer screw-threaded end of spindle Z3, as shown in Fig. 2, and by means of a coiled spring, Z, located within the sleeve Zl and pressing against the inner end of nut Z5, the stitch-wheel Z is normally pushed out, as usual in machines of this kind. Vrlibe sleeve Zl has a downwardlyprojecting vertical rod, ZT, that is adjustably secured to the hollow post ZS, attached to the bed c, as shown in Fig. 2, and to limit the outward throw of the stitelrwheel Zwe employ an adj usting-screw, 111, the inner end of which is made adjustable in a screw-threaded perfo ration in the rod Z", its outer end having a iiange or head, 1n', against which the nut Z is brought to bear by the iniiuence of the coiled spring ZG when the stitch-wheel Z is thrown out to its limit of motion in this direction. In addition to this usual arrangement for normally throwing out the stitch-wheel Z, we make use of an automatic throwing-in device to throw in the stitch-wheel for one course, and thereby to form a slack stitch to enable the work to be transferred from one machine to another, and this automatic throwing in device is constructed as follows:

To the exterior circumference of the needlecylinder d we secure a cam face or projection, d, (shown in Figs. 1 and 4,) which once during the revolution of the cylinder eZ comes in contact with and actuates the pawl-bar 11, that is movable against the iniiuenec of a spring, 11', in a guide-piece, 11.", secured to bed c, as shown in Fig. 4.

For the purpose of properly adjusting and regulating the throw of the pawl-bar 11 an adjustable set-screw, 113, is screwed into its outer end, as shown in Fig. 4, and it is on the head of said set-screw 11.3 that the cam projection d acts to move the pawl-bar 11.

114 is a set-nut on screw 113, to secure the latter firmly in position on the end of pawl-bar 11. after being adjusted thereon, as shown in Fig. 4.

115 is a pawl hinged to the inner end of the pawl-bar 11, which pawl is by means of the yielding spring 1t held in contact with the toothed surfaces of the ratchet-wheels o and p, which are loosely journaled side by side on the spindle q, located in the standards or bearings Q q', as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5.

On the side of the ratchetwheel o is secured the cam or projection o', (shown in Figs. 4 and 5,) that actuates a pawl or lever, L, secured to the rock-shaft L', that is located in bearings in the standards q q, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, said rock-shaft having secured to its outer end the lever or arm L, the lower end of which is pivoted or connected to the link L,

having its inner end hinged to a pin, L, that projects from the bearing-piece Z through a slotted perforation in the side of sleeve Z", as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 5. Thus it will be seen that when the lever L is raised by contact with the cam o it causes the shaft L to rock and the stitch-wheel Zto be thrown in automaticall y against the influence of spring Z, for the purpose set forth, the said wheel Z being thrown out to its normal position by the'inlluence of spring Z as soon as the cam or projection o ceases to act on the arm or lever L.

Heretofore in knittingmachines of this kind a single presser-wheel has been used. We make use of a double presser-wheel, by which the capacity of the machine for doing various kinds of work is materially increased.

Our improved duplex presser-wheel consists of a pair of toothed or serrated wheels, R and S, one arranged above and in contact with the other, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The wheel R is loosely journaled on a stud or pin, 1, secured to the bcaringpiece 1",A and the wheel S is similarlyjournaled on an independent pin, s, secured to its bearing-piece s, as shown in Fig. 3. The bearing-pieces1" s are secured, respectively, to the independent spindles 1 s, located within the respective sleeves 1'* si. rlhe spindles 1" s are serewhreaded in their outer ends, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with regulating-nuts1'* s", by which the inward movement of spindles 1* s is regulated and adjusted, such inward motion of said spindles and their respective wheels R S being caused by means of the coiled springs 1i s", located, respectively, on the spindles 1 s within the sleeves 1I3 si, as shown in Fig. 3. Fach of the sleeves 1-3 s is provided with a cylindrical side proj eetion, 1" and s, (shown in Fig. 5, such projections being secured, by means of set-screws or equivalent devices, in perforations in the vertically-adj ustable post T, the lower end of which lits into and is secured to hollow post t, that is attached to the bed a, as shown in Fig. 5.

L5 is an outer bearing for the rock-shaft L', such bearing being shown in Figs. 1 and 5 as secured to the post T.

The automatic mechanism for throwing out the toothed presser-wheels RS from the barbed needles cZ rZ is, constructed as follows:

In bearings in the standards q q are located the rockshafts R and S', to which are respectivel y secured the pawls or levers R S. (Shown in Fig. 4.) Said pawls are raised or rocked automatically when brought in contact with the respective cams or projections R3 S, secured to the side of the ratchetwheel o, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

To the rock-shafts R S are secured, respecta IOS IIO

IZO

ively, the levers R* S", the lower ends of which lie in contact with the pins or projections i sl, secured, respectively, to the spring-pressed Ispindles 7" s", and made to project through slotted openings in the sleeves r3 s3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and full lines in Fig. 5. lt will thus be seen that the wheels R S will be automatically drawn out against the influence of the respective springs rf S5 whenever the projections Ri S"a on ratchet-wheel o come in contact with the pawls or levers R" S", and in this manner the said wheels It S are automatically drawn out independently or simultaneously, and also automatically pushed in iu the same manner. To permit ot 'the lateral adjustment of one wheel relative to the other, and still keep them locked together in their rotary movement, we provide the wheel S with a pin, 8S, fitting in a slot, rs, in the wheel R, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6; or other suitable device may be used to keep the wheels from rotating independently of each other without departing from the essence of our in-v vention. \Vhen the wheels R and S are located concentrically one above the other, the teeth of one wheel come above (or below) the spaces of the other, and as the peripheral distance between the center lines of a tooth and a space is equal to the distance between .the center lines of the needles d d it follows that when both wheels are in they serve the purpose of a common presser to close every beard or barb on all the needles. Vhen the bottom wheel, S, only is in, it closes every other barb or beard on the needles, as may be desired, for forming a tuck or raised stitch on the fabric, and when the top wheel, R, is in, the same operation takes place on alternate needles not touched by the bottom wheel, and by this construction and arrangement of presser-wheels we obtain, as it were, three distinct pressers in one and the same device.

U in Figs. 3 and 4 is an adj ustable frictionspring secured in its lower end to any suitable part of standards g q', or a brace, U, thereon, and having its upper end pressing against the toothed pcripheries of ratchet-wheels op, so as to hold the latter stationary, except when moved by the pawl n". As shown, the said spring U is secured near its lower end, by means of a screw, U', to a bar, U, attached to standards q q', and said spring has a screwthreaded perforation in its lower end, through which passes the set-screw U, (shown in Fig. 4,) the inner end of which bears against a stationary part of the bed. By adjusting said set-screw U3 the pressure of the upper end of the spring U against the toothed wheels o p can be regulated.

For the purpose or" effecting any desired changes in the automatic operations of the stitch and presser wheels,we make 011 the periphery of the ratchet wheel 'p a cut away space, l?, (shown in Fig. 4,) and a similar eutaway space, O, (shown in dotted lines in FiO'. 4,)is made on the circumference of the ratchetwheel o. P is a pin secured to the ratchetwheel p, and O is a similar pin secured to the ratchet-wheel o, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The pawl n in its action upon the two ratchetwheels 0 and p will impart an intermittent rotary motion simultaneously to both wheels until the cut-away space l? on wheel p comes in the path of the pawln, when the latter can of course no longer impart a motion to said wheel p, and it remains still, while the other wheel, o, continues to intermittentlyrotate, causing its pin or projection O to come in contact with the pin P on wheel p, and to push it along with wheel p, so that the pawl a5 can again act on the serrated surface on it, by which intermittent motion is again imparted to wheel p, and both wheels o and p now niove together until the cut-away space O on wheel o comes in the ath of )awl n cansin wheel D i g o to remain stationary until, by the continued motion of wheel p, its pin P comes in contact with pin O on wheel o, and thus again sets the latter in motion, and in this manner the wheels 0 p are intermittently rotated and held stationary for the purpose ot' automatically throwing out the respective presser-wheels and stitch-wheel at the proper times, according to the nature of the work that is to be done. Byinserting another pin, P, in ratchet-wheel p at any desired place in the path of the pin O 011 wheel o, any desired change in the automatic `motion of presserwheels and stitch-V wheel :may be obtained.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of our invention, we wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim- 1. A knitting-machine having the cylinder d and a cam or projection, d, thereon, in combination with the stitch-wheel Z and intermediate connecting mechanism, substantially as described, for automatically operating the said stitch-wheel toand from the needles, as set forth.

2. rl`he combination of the rotary cylinder or needle-circle d with a loosely-rotating castoff` wheel, 7c, arranged on the outside of and bearing against the outside of the needles d'd, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the needle-cylinder d and its cam or projection d, and intermediate connecting mechanism, as described, to the presser spindles r s", the pressers R S, having a locking device by which one is prevented from rotating independent of the other, as described, and the independent yielding spindles r S, and their respective springs 1'5 s, for each of the respective pressers R S, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The needle-cylinder d and its cam or projection d, the spring-pressed pawl-n, block n and its spring a', the loosely-mounted ratchetwheels 0 p, having the cut-away spaces O P, pins O 1?/ P, and cam o on wheel o, in combination with the yielding stitch-wheel l, the spindle Z3, and spring Z, rock-shaft L', arms or levers L L thereon, and link L, connected to IOS spindle Z3, for automatically throwing in the stitch-wheel Z, as herein set forth.

5. The needle-cylinder d and its projection or cam d, the spring-pressed pim/'1915, its block n, and spring n', the loosely-mounted ratchetwheels o p, having cut-away spaces O P, and pins O P P, and cams It S3 on wheel 0, in combination with the yielding pressers R S, the respective spindles lr s, and springs 11585, rock-shafts R S, arms or levers R RL SIl S, springs T5 S5, and pins ri sT on the respective spring` -pressed spindles 1" s", for automatic` ally throwing ont said pressexs, as herein set forth and described.

6. The stitch-wheel l and its spring-pressed I5 spindle Z" and regulating-nut Z5, in combination with the regulating-screws m m, to limit the outwardfmotion of said stitch-wheel, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 2o names to this spcciication, in the presence of two subscribing.;` witnesses, on this 7th day of September, A. D. 1886.

DANIEL F. SULLIVAN. VILLIAM J. GRAHAM.

XVitnesscs:

SAMUEL B. VYAMN, GEO. H. S'rEVIcNs. 

